2015 FREE DINING THREAD _ All Questions HERE!!

[disneydude365]

Wow that's a great score, I was convinced those dates were the most popular and wouldn't have anything. Good job!

thank you!! it was a very challenging day lol

 

[Taran430]

I know a lot of people are upset this year the FD was so limited and that you had to have park hoppers. I know A LOT of people who are booking to go to Universal because it was cheaper than disney even without dinning. I think Disney needs to find a way to do this a little better next year....I got everything I wanted, but stayed up all night and fumbled around for a half hour online to get it. I'm going to book a BB so I don't have to mess with that next year (lots of BB might be why it was so limited this year)

Sadly I don't think they have to worry about it. The CM that answered my call to modify my reservation said that the limitations in room availability were due to them phasing out FD all together because the economy has recovered...I'm not sure I agree the economy has recovered, but it seemed she knew what she was talking about considering she commented on various new specials they would offer in place of free dining and one was the special for annual pass holders. I'm just wondering will they take away FD on BB offers too

 

[linzjane88]

Grrr. Nobody wants a Pirate room, Disney! (well not this group of 2 adult couples travelling childless anyway. And certainly not for an extra $50 a night!)

 

[disravenlaur]

Really was hoping to get my ressie modified for POR with free dining for 2 rooms..but im in the same boat as some others having booked through a TA. He didn't get in until 1 and said he and another TA were on hold all day and there was no availability. It's so frustrating. Any chances there would be any hope left to get FD added to my POR ressie?

 

[sarahplus4disneymom]

Really was hoping to get my ressie modified for POR with free dining for 2 rooms..but im in the same boat as some others having booked through a TA. He didn't get in until 1 and said he and another TA were on hold all day and there was no availability. It's so frustrating. Any chances there would be any hope left to get FD added to my POR ressie?

What are your dates?

 

[disravenlaur]

My dates are Oct 1 through Oct 8

 

[Aubrav]

Sadly I don't think they have to worry about it. The CM that answered my call to modify my reservation said that the limitations in room availability were due to them phasing out FD all together because the economy has recovered...I'm not sure I agree the economy has recovered, but it seemed she knew what she was talking about considering she commented on various new specials they would offer in place of free dining and one was the special for annual pass holders. I'm just wondering will they take away FD on BB offers too

I really don't think Disney has to worry about discounts in general, but they do entice an extra stay from avid-Disney fans or even a first stay for families who think they can't afford it. So either way it brings in more revenue. You have to wonder how much of the cause of the limited availability was due to reservations that were already booked like bounce back offers and in anticipation of free dining. I mean, for a travel agent that's one of their selling points, book with me now and I'll get you free dining or I'll get you another discount, further encouraging people by both TA's and Disney themselves, to book dates at full price in anticipation of discounts. I'd imagine to Disney, what matters is what the resort capacity looks like after the dust settles. They have to study who cancels their stays completely vs. modifying it to a more economical option and then try to provide discounts the following year to meet that demand without losing money. I'm rambling now... I swear I had a point.

 

[sarahplus4disneymom]

My dates are Oct 1 through Oct 8

Firm?
I saw some POR stays like around 9/25
And CBR around the same time... 9/24-10/1... So a week earlier

 

[linzjane88]

Okay, wierdness. So I am still on the hunt for non-pirate rooms at CBR from 9/24-9/28 (4 nights). The funny thing is I added 2 days on, making checkout on the 30th, and availability for king rooms popped up? 4 Nights already meets the minimum so why would adding 2 more days make more availability appear? Odd. Hoping in theory once the craziness dies down we can call and shave off the extra days. Also, I didn't realize they charged more for a King bed. What are the chances you get a king bed on check-in without having booked for one?

 

[Aubrav]

My dates are Oct 1 through Oct 8

I have similar dates and am showing availability at CBR, CSR, and OKW

 

[Aubrav]

Okay, wierdness. So I am still on the hunt for non-pirate rooms at CBR from 9/24-9/28 (4 nights). The funny thing is I added 2 days on, making checkout on the 30th, and availability for king rooms popped up? 4 Nights already meets the minimum so why would adding 2 more days make more availability appear? Odd. Hoping in theory once the craziness dies down we can call and shave off the extra days. Also, I didn't realize they charged more for a King bed. What are the chances you get a king bed on check-in without having booked for one?

This exact same thing happened to me last year with POP. I literally changed the dates to add one day onto the beginning and then it showed as available. So I just booked it. I called later to have the extra day knocked off.

 

[disravenlaur]

Firm?
I saw some POR stays like around 9/25
And CBR around the same time... 9/24-10/1... So a week earlier

Yea firm. Still have the RO though so that's something, I was at least hoping for POP to be available but that's ok. We were going with or without FD but it's just nice to have all those savings. Hopefully a pin will come along..we usually get them so maybe some pixie dust will be thrown my way. Thanks for the help I appreciate it

 

[superrach]

Seeing a few more options appearing for rooms for the week I'll be there December 19-24. Maybe there are some cancelations or changes being put back into the system tonight. Maybe some people will get lucky and find what they want. I did about an hour ago! Wasn't a standard or preferred one for CSR at 7am this morning and now I have a preferred!

 

[Taran430]

So due to having to choose between AOA and Pop Century I start doing homework and find all kinds of interesting information about how Pop Century was originally suppose to be two sections and the legendary years had started being built and was abandoned after 9/11 and after years of being in disrepair was turned into the AOA which is why it is so close to Pop and has a bridge connecting it which is named The Generation Gap. I even found pictures of the buildings that were abandoned and later turned into the Little Mermaid Rooms. Very Interesting you can never learn everything Disney

 

[MinnieLovesMickey]

So due to having to choose between AOA and Pop Century I start doing homework and find all kinds of interesting information about how Pop Century was originally suppose to be two sections and the legendary years had started being built and was abandoned after 9/11 and after years of being in disrepair was turned into the AOA which is why it is so close to Pop and has a bridge connecting it which is named The Generation Gap. I even found pictures of the buildings that were abandoned and later turned into the Little Mermaid Rooms. Very Interesting you can never learn everything Disney

As nice as AOA is, I still would love to see how the legendary years section would have turned out.

 

[Taran430]

As nice as AOA is, I still would love to see how the legendary years section would have turned out.

I have to admit after reading the planning behind the whole resort right down to hourglass lake I was really intrigued as well. It really was a great concept and I'm sure that it would have looked really great.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Grrr. Nobody wants a Pirate room, Disney! (well not this group of 2 adult couples travelling childless anyway. And certainly not for an extra $50 a night!)

We'd gladly take a pirate room....if it wasn't a mile away from everything.....and cost so much more. Obviously they made a bad move there. Those are always the last rooms left.

 

[noahsketomom]

I booked with a TA. Other than the waiting game being tough, we got what we wanted (2 CSR standards in early Sept with FD).

However, MDE is a mess. We have two rooms...one with me and DH and 2 boys. Our two girls at in another room with my mom and sis. My TA told me my mom needed he own MDE account. So I set that up and added her room ressie...& now can't link them at all bc it says my mom is in charge of that reservation. It told me to call Disney. Then, after the shenanigans yesterday, my MDE shows two rooms....both with the same confirmation # and with the same four people in them(me, DH, & the boys). The ADRs are on my account.

Anyhow, my real question is do I call my TA? Disney? I want to wait until the crazy dies down, but if I truly have an extra room somewhere then I feel like I need to remove it soon so someone else can have it.
Any help appreciated.

 

[petrymom]

Hey!!!!!! I just went online and scored the room I originally wanted at CBR!!!!!! To those who didn't get what they want give it another try. only problem is now I have my Beach Club Resort and I got kicked out during the first reservation for CBR so I have two of those booked to. I can't figure out how to cancel online so I will be calling today to cancel two of the three Reservations I have.

 

[lock3130]

I tried call 88 times yesterday! I couldn't get the online thing to work. My husband called twice and got someone on the second try. Turns out, I can't get the free dining, even though we check in during the dates offered. Completely bummed.